Sink structure



May 15, 1962 G. A. LYON SINK STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 2, 1959 INVENTOR l1 'eorge /9/erfyon ATTORNEYS United States Patent hce 3,034,150 Patented May 15, 1962 3,034,150 SINK STRUCTURE George Albert Lyon, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Lyon Incorporated, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 844,053 3 Claims. (Cl. 4-137) The present invention relates to improvements in sink structures and more particularly concerns novel means for effecting a neat, hygienic joint between a sink rim and a counter top.

Ordinarily, unless a rigid sink rim ilange edge is received within a recess in a counter top upon which such rim ilange edge is directly engaged, a reentrant corner or even groove is present at the edge of the sink rim within which dirt can accumulate. In addition, dill-lculty would be encountered in wiping water from the counter top into the sink.

It is accordingly an important object of the present invention to provide an improved sink structure wherein a rigid rim of a sink is directly engaged upon a counter top without any need for recessing or other alteration of the counter top itself, and novel joint means elect a neat trim smoothly blending the upper surface of the rim ange adjacent its edge with the counter top upper surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for bridging the upper surface of a sink rim ange with the upper surface of a counter top upon which the rim flange is engaged without any need for recessing the edge into the counter top.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved trim means for the edges of relatively thick sink rim anges engaged directly upon counter tops.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved sink structure wherein a rigid sink rim ange has an overflow curb and counter top engaging marginal portion and trim means effecting a smooth transition from the blunt thick edge of the rim ange and the countertop surface.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will -be readily apparent from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE l is a top plan View of a sink structure embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational detail view taken substantially on the line lI-II of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a View similar to FIGURE 2 but showing a modiiication; and

FIGURE 4 is another view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing another modification.

As shown in FIGURES l and 2, a sink 5 has a lateral rigid rim flange 7 provided with an integral rigid upwardly and outwardly extending marginal overflow curb and drainback portion 8 having a slightly downturned edge 9 arranged to engage upon the margin of a counter top 10 about an opening 11 within which the sink is mounted. The counter top may be of the wooden base and thermosetting plastic top lamina construction. By

counter top is meant generically, any suitable form The sink 5 may be of the heavy gauge pressed steel, or similar rigid constructionphaving an enameliim'sh; At juncture of thel rim ange extension portion 8 with the rim Iiiange`7 is provided an anti-splash groove 12 opening inwardly andproviding under the overlying portion of the extension 8 an upwardly and outwardly facing shoulder 13 which in the assembly is spaced a limited distance from the edge defining the counter top opening 11 and is adapted to be retainingly engaged by retaining clips 14 although in some cases it may be suiiicient to rely upon downward pull of attached plumbing to retain the sink in asembly with the counter top.

Although in this instance the bowl portion of the sink 5 is shown as of generally oval form 'With the perimeter of thesink rim 7 circular andV with the sink rim widened at back of the sink to accommodate plumbing iixtures, other preferred shapes of the sink bowl and rim outline may be provided, depending upon the kind of sink and other preferences.

In a preferred form, the retaining clips 14 lare of a rigid construction adapted for firmly retaining the sink and counter top against displacement not only in an up and down direction but also in a transverse direction. For this purpose each of the spring clips 14 comprises a generally L-shaped arrangement of an upstanding arm 15 and an outwardly projecting arm 17. The upstanding arm has an inwardly projecting head shoulder portion 18 which engages the sink rim shoulder 13 cammingly while the outer face of the head end portion engages against the edge defining the countertop openings 11. The outwardly projecting arm 17 of the clip is arranged to underlie the counter top 10 in spaced relation and carries movable clamping means conveniently in the form of a screw 19 threaded therethrough anden-v gageable at its tip with the underside of theV counter top `'whereby tightening of the screw against the counter top causes the clip arms 15 and 1 7 vto be drawn downwardly, thus thrusting the head shoulder 18 against the rim shoulder 13 to draw the sink rim edge 9 toward the counter top. At the same time, a wedging coaction occurs between the sink rim shoulder 13 in the adjacent edge of the counter top to effect a firm retention of the sink against transverse movement relative to the counter top. `As sembly of the clips .14 is eiected by inserting the arm 1'5 into the narrow gap between the sink ri-m and the counter top edge while the clip is turned with the narrowest dimension of the head end portion of the arm 15 oriented to enter the gap, such position being about from that shown in FIGURE 2, whereafter the clip is turned to engage the projection 1S upon the shoulder '13, and the screw 19 then tightened.

It will `be observed that the edge 9 of the'rim flange portion 3 is of substantial thickness and Vwould thus provide an undesirable step-like relationV to the counter top creating an undesirable dirt catching reentrant corner with the counter -top and making it diiiicult to wipe water or particles of material or debris from the counter top into the sink unless as has sometimes been done heretofore the edge were to be countersunk into the counter top as by having a recess of the counter top. However, according to the present invention a neat ramp-like transition between the upper surface of the rim ange portion 8 and the upper surface of the counter top is aiorded by a trim strip 20 which constitutes primarily a body iiange portion extending downwardly and outwardly as shown and is contoured to laord an outward continuation of the uppermost surface of the n'm portion 8 at the edge Qingflange portion 23' which underliestand is clamped byV the sink rim flange edge 9 against the countertop. While the depending spacerv iiange portion 22 of the trim strip `affords an abutment against thetrim flange edge 9' Vretaining the trim strip against inward displacement, a depend- 'ingl inner terminal flange portion 24 of vthe trim strip opposes the edge defining the counter top opening 11 andV positively retains the trim strip against outwardldisplacement relative to the sink rim flange. Suitable material such as'stainless steel stripmay be utilized in making the trim strip 20. Y f

YInthe, modification of FIGURE 3, a sink having a rigid rim flange '7' -with a rim ange extension and counter top engaging rimflange extension portion S having an Outer edge 9Vv engaging upon a counter top 10 formed with a sink Vreceiving opening 11' provides substantially similar arrangement as in FIGURE 2 so thatrsubstan? strip be oriented or biased in a suiciently downward initial direction relative to the associated edge of the sink rim iiange to assure a firmly sealingly coacting pressure of such outer extremities with the counter top for effective sealing of the strip thereagainst.- Such sealing may be enhanced with respect Vto the strip 2li, at least, by placing a plastic sealing or caulkingfinateiial within the chamber afforded between the arched strip body and the concealed portion of the countertop, such material having been omitted from-the drawing since it is a more or less conventional expedient and not essential to an understanding of the disclosure.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.V

I claim as my invention:

l. In a structure including a counter having an `opening therein, a member received in said opening and having an outwardly projecting rim flange, said flange presenting a blunt edge disposed in step-like relation over said counter top, and. a trim strip of thin sheet material f provided with a body iiange extending on a smooth gentle tially thev same description of elements and functions applies, except that a somewhat different form of joint trim' strip is provided for cooperation with the sink rim edge 9. Y

In the trim strip 25, an upper body flange portion 27 is provided which has an inner margin seated in an upwardly opening groove 28 in the margin of the sink vilange extension portion 8'V equal to the thickness of the material of the ange portion 27 so that there is a smooth transition-from the upper surface of the portion 8' to the upper surface ofthe trim flange 27 and then from the trim iiange 27 to the counter top 10. Extending inwardly from the outer extremity of the tiange portion 27 is an underturned seating flange 29' upon whichl the sink rim edge 9' clampiugly engages, with an upturned interlock ,angelportion extremity 30 ofthe trim flange 29 engaging the underside of the downturned rim flange edge portion and acting to hold the trim'strip 25 against outward displacement relative to the sink and counter top.k

In the moditicationof FIGURE 4 double primed ref-y erence numeralsrindicate parts substantially identical with tlioseinFIGURE Z so that the same description applies 1 as to general structure and function. In this instance,

placement. AnV underturned inwardly directed Seating liange underlies the rim flange edge 9" and is clamped v against the counter top thereby, inward displacement of the trim strip being precluded by wedging engagement of vthe edge' 9 within the convergence of the trim flanges 33 and y3S. Y

While the trimstrip 20 is constructed to be assembled with the counter top and the sink rim edge as a separate member to be clamped in placednbyA the sink rim liange edge, the trim strips 25.and 32 are constructed and arranged to bemounted upon and carried by as functionally integral'parts ofthe respective rim danges with which associated. In all instances, however, the trimstrips are preferably made from as thin sheet material as practicplacementwhile the edgeof the trim ange 27 engaging n *against any opposing shoulder 31 defining the inner side of. thegroove r2,8 retains the trim strip against inwardpdis-V slope from the upper surface of said n'm flange outwardly and downwardly to an outer extremity engaging sealingly against the upper surface of the counter top spaced from said blunt edge and thereby aording a ramp-like transition between the upper surface of the rim ange and the upper surface of the counter top, said body flange having thereon a flange portion grippingly interengaged be- Y tween'said rim iiange and the counter top to thereby hold the trim strip firmly in position relative to vsaid edge, said flange having lan upwardly opening marginal groove of a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the material Ying an outwardly projecting rim flange, said flange presenting a blunt( edge disposed in step-like relation over said counter top, and a trim strip of thin sheet material provided with a body flange extending on a smooth gentle slope from the upper surface of said rim flange outf wardly and downwardly to an outer extremity engaging .portion 8" to retain the trim `strip 32 against outward disable consistent with utility. In all instances it is desirable s that the outermost edge or extremity portion of the trim sealingly against the upper surface vof the counterV top spaced from said blunt edge and thereby affording a ramplike transition between the upper surface ofthe rim ange and the upper surface of the counter top, said body ange having thereon a flange portion grippingly interengaged lbetween said rim iiange and the counter top to thereby hold the trim strip firmly in position relative to said edge, said iiange portion of the body flange of the strip comprising an extension from the side of said body flange nearest to said rim tiange and conformed tok engage against said Iblunt edge with a portion underlying the rim ange and clamped thereby against the counter top and having a downturned inner extremity engaging the edge of the counter top in saidopening'to maintain the strip against outward displacement Von the counter top.

3. In a structure including'a counter top having an opening therein, a member received in said opening and having an outwardly projecting rim iiange, said iiange presenting a blunt edge disposed in step-like relation over said counter top, and a trim strip of thin sheet'material provided with a 'body ilange extending on a smooth gentle slope from the upper surface of said rim ange outwardly and downwardly-to a juncturetwith an inwardly extending flangeV in V-relationship, said inwardly extending flange being in ripped relation between said rim ange and the counter top to thereby hold the trim strip rrnly in position relative to said edge, said V-juncture substantially merging with the counter top and aording a seal therewith.

References Cied in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Windsor Oct. 4, 1932 Awbrey Nov. 21, 1933 Lyon Feb. 20, 1934 Fisher July 24, 1934 Bonnell Apr. 12, 1938 6 Lyon Oct. 9, 1945 Blakeslee Apr. 27, 1948 Lyon May 2, 1950 OBrien Oct. 3, 1950 Pence May 8, 1951 Greenberg Apr. 29, 1952 Skinner Nov. 12, 1957 Hornik Mar. 1, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Ausrali'a June 21, 1928 

